By Beverly Bizeki
Masvingo City Council has raised concern about the vulnerability of the Victoria Ranch suburb to the cholera pandemic as the area is prone to the effects of rampant illegal dumping of garbage due to lack of a proper refuse collection and disposal system.
This was noted in the Health, Housing, and Environmental Services committee minutes where the committee resolved the City should engage Masvingo Rural District Council and advise them on the need to have refuse collection and disposal systems as the fight against cholera continues.
“On the control of the cholera pandemic, the committee raised concern that the city of Masvingo would be more vulnerable to the disease given rampant illegal dumping of garbage notably in Victoria Ranch suburbs.
“The Chief Health Environmental Health Officer was tasked to write a letter to Masvingo RDC advising on the need to put in place refuse collection and disposal systems in Victoria Ranch to mitigate against the cholera outbreak,” read the minutes.
The Victoria Ranch suburbs were established around 2012 and residents have not had proper service delivery as the project has allegedly been abandoned by land barons involved in the project.
Residents in the suburbs are still exposed to the ordeal of a lack of proper drainage systems, sewer reticulation, among other things.
One Victoria Ranch resident Dr Munyaradzi Chidarikire said the situation was getting out of hand as the population increased every day and urged the local authorities to treat the matter with urgency.
“The issue of refuse collection in Victoria Ranch has reached a critical point due to the increased human population, leading to severe consequences. Residents are resorting to burning refuse resulting in significant air pollution. The burning which usually occurs at night further exacerbates the problem causing breathing difficulties for some individuals.
“Some residents are also disposing of used diapers in open spaces, posing a serious health risk to the community including diseases such as cholera. In light of these pressing concerns, I urge the council to take immediate action by designating a refuse disposal facility located far away from the residential area.
“Further, council should prioritise the deployment of refuse trucks in these suburbs to ensure timely collection of refuse from residents. This step is essential in maintaining cleanliness and preventing further health hazards within the community. By addressing these challenges promptly, council can alleviate the adverse effects caused by lack of refuse collection,” said Dr Chidarikire.
Heaps of dumped rubbish, mostly used diapers have become an eyesore in Victoria Ranch, and the residents are also exposed to another hazard posed by the old dumpsite which is closer to houses.
